Court upholds California DNA swabs of arrestees

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A federal appeals court has upheld California's law requiring people arrested for felonies to submit samples of their DNA.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday said a 2013 U.S. Supreme Court ruling upholding a similar law in Maryland applies to California.

The American Civil Liberties Union objects to DNA collection because not all persons arrested are charged. The high court ruled in the Maryland case that taking a cheek swab for DNA was akin to fingerprinting all those who are arrested and was not overly intrusive.

The ACLU also argued that some California arrestees aren't covered by the high court ruling because Maryland's law is slightly different and covers only serious crimes. The 9th Circuit said that argument needs to be made before a trial court.